The Kolkata Airport Authority’s decision to bar outsiders from entering the 136-year-old Gauripur Jama Masjid near the construction site of the expanded secondary runway has turned into a war of words between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari supporting the decision while Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sujata Roy opposed it.
Till Friday, 20 to 30 people were allowed to enter the mosque, also known as Bankra Mosque, with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel screening them and escorting them through Gate No. 8 on Jessore Road in a bus.
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This has been standard procedure for decades. The authorities stated on Friday that the entry suspension was for only three days. However, no outsider was allowed in on Monday.
“I am against this sudden decision to prevent people from visiting the mosque. I had talks on how to move it earlier as well. I think it should be done after talking to the Muslim community,” the TMC member said.
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The head of the Bengal unit of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind Siddiqullah Chowdhury, a former state minister, accused the state government of harassing people.
“This is unfair. Everyone is aware that the airport is a high security zone. There was no incident of security breach and yet Gate No. 8 was closed. We will ask the airport authorities to reopen the gate and seek clarification from the Center on the security issues raised.”
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Chaudhary first expressed his views on the issue on Sunday and CM Suvendu Adhikari responded to them within hours on the sidelines of the BJP’s organizational meeting in East Midnapore district. “The security of Kolkata airport is our top priority due to the state’s proximity to China and Bangladesh. Civilians cannot be allowed to enter the airport which is also used by defence,” Adhikari said on Sunday, indirectly referring to the movement of military aircraft through the airport on certain occasions.
